During an anime convention in San Antonio, Texas, I had the opportunity to meet Eric Vale, the dub voice actor for Sanji in One pieceShigaraki in My hero academiaAnd drinks in Dragon Ball. In this particular Sun Japan panel, he shared tidbits of invaluable information suitable for any anime fan hoping to break into the wonderful world of voice acting. Not only was it a dream come true to meet such an iconic actor in real life, but to hear about his experiences, hardships and lessons he endured throughout his career Gave me a newfound appreciation for the craft.
I have been in the entertainment industry for years, but I only got into voice acting a few years ago. I started auditioning for commercials, audiobooks and evening e-learner stories. However, character acting was where my true passion lay. As someone who also doubles in character design and screenwriting, I found that bringing original characters to life fits perfectly into my set of passions. However, like the rest of the entertainment industry, voice acting is no easy profession to break into, which is why Hearing the wisdom of a professional gave me so much comfort.
Vinsmoke Sanji’s Guide to Voice Acting
Eric Vale has prepared the perfect how-to for any novice (and veteran) voice actor
Eric Vale appeared during a panel at the 15th gathering of the San Japan Anime Convention in San Antonio, the largest anime and gaming convention in South Texas. The panel consisted of a few other voice actors, along with Eric Vale, including the dub actress for Mitsuri in demon slayer, Kira Buckland, sharing their experiences as professional voice actors. While both actors shared some amazing advice, Vale’s special hit home for me and seemed to Provide comfort to a lot of “struggling artists” in the room.
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Vale’s discussion circles around audition, which may seem like the most uninteresting part of their job. After all, who needs auditions when you’re the voice actor for Sanji? But Vale once again said that if you don’t like auditions, find a new profession. Audition comprises about 90% of an actor’s time; The other 10% is the actual projects. At this point in the panel, Vale and Buckland listed only a handful of the websites available to voice actors for finding open roles. The platforms included: Backstage, CastingCallClub, Voices.com, Actors Access and more.
At this point in the panel, some of the audience members seemed to feel a little overwhelmed. Being an actor is no easy feat; Audition in and of itself is a full-time job if done correctly. What happened next has stuck with me to this day. Vale stopped the panel and asked audience members to raise their hands only if they auditioned for at least one project each day. I raised my hand with trepidation and was shocked to find that only one other person in the room raised yours. Vale paused, referring to our raised hands, and told the rest of the audience, “They are your competition.” My life was complete; I was acknowledged by the head chef of the Straw Hat Crew.
Being in the entertainment industry for 13 years takes its toll. Denial after denial is simply part of my daily routine. However, the Wales panel proved to me that I was on the right track; I was the competition. Not only that, but his example provides a clear “how-to” for those new to the voice acting industry: audition, audition, audition. By proving that there are those who stand out in the world of casting every single day, He not only provided encouragement to us veteransBut push the aspiring actors to do their best, to be brave and to show the world what they have to offer.
How to Find Your Voice (According to Eric Vale)
FAQ in voice acting with Sanji
One of the key elements of being a voice actor is (not surprisingly) finding your voice. Eric Vale discusses the importance of defining your voice and then growing from there to break out of the box. He mentioned that while some new voice actors try to go for the weirdest sounding voices they can and then put them on a demo reel, he suggests a different method. Instead, Vale encouraged us to include our normal voice on our demo reel and then add small adjustments, working up to “weird sounding” voices when needed. After all, Sanji’s voice wasn’t too far away from Eric.
In addition to a demo reel (which is a collection of 5- to 10-second voice clips), Vale recommends coming up with a cover letter in which you can help describe your vocal style to a casting director. Although it is often considered a bad thing to be “type-casted,” Vale said that having actors you can “compare” your own voice to can help you get your first jobs. For example, if a famous voice actor’s tone, chosen roles and overall style seem to reflect your own, Vale recommends using this to describe your voice to casting directors.
Of course, Vale included that voice actors should not try to copy-cat someone, but sometimes it can help casting directors to place you based on what your “voice twin” is also typically cast in. For example, I mention Ben Schwartz because there have been a ton of Sonic voice actors over the years. Although not the same, they all have a very similar tone and pitch to their voice. Voice actors need to sound like the Sonic we all know and love, which is why finding your “voice twin” can be helpful in landing you bigger roles.
Why voice actors will never be replaced by AI
As a voice actress, I felt the effects of AI on the entertainment industry. Although not yet in full effect, the utilization of AI has already infiltrated many film and television studios, including anime. While far from completely replacing their artists, Toei Animation, one of the most iconic names in anime, has already started implementing the use of AI In their projects to help speed up the production process.
I currently serve as a freelance illustrator and voice actor for various projects. However, while I don’t work full-time in any of these roles, I have been impacted by the use of AI in recent projects. For example, I was thrilled to book a long-term project with multiple seasons in which I would play two roles: lead and support. After I recorded the first two seasons, I received an email with every voice actor’s worst nightmare. I was notified that the directors of the project plan to replace all the voice actors with AI-generated voices to reduce costs and speed up the production process.
However, I am comforted by industry giants like Hayao Miyazaki, who led another artistic movement. While studios are underpaying their staff and resorting to using artificial intelligence to replace human creativity, The director of Studio Ghibli remained a beacon of hope for artists Who are afraid of the future of anime. When Miyazaki mentioned the idea of ​​using AI in Studio Ghibli:
“I’m totally disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it. I would never want to incorporate this technology into my work. I feel strongly that this is an insult to life itself.” – Hayao Miyazaki
As an artist, Miyazaki’s bold statement brings me hope. To combat the AI ​​movement, it will take artists together to stand up against the replacement of human creativity with artificial artistry. Audiences have already given their open and honest opinions around AI-heavy projects, such as Corridor Digital’s 7-minute short film, Rock, paper, scissors.
While the creators referred to the short as an “anime,” it was shot as a live action production. The creative team then used AI to make the images look “cartoony,” resembling the iconic style of anime. However, what resulted was an emotional, invisible valley animation that was A parody of anime rather than a tribute. The LA-based production company received harsh backlash and criticism on the project. While I can’t encourage any kind of harassment of an artist’s work, I can’t help but appreciate audiences who stand up for the jobs of animators, voice actors, and illustrators who keep the anime industry afloat.
After I discovered that my multi-time voice-over project was replacing artists with AI, they offered to compensate me with a small allowance to use my voice to train the AI ​​indefinitely. After a good consideration, I refused. By using the voices of artists, Companies can use the recordings indefinitely without having to pay the voice actors More than once. Not only did I turn down the offer for my own sake, but in protest for my co-workers.
Although my meeting with the voice actor for Sanji Was over a year ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. The iconic voice actor not only gave fantastic industry advice, but comfort to a group of artists whose jobs seem to be threatened by the fast-moving world of AI. Thanks to voice-acting legends like Eric Vale from One piece and Kira Buckland of Demon SlayerI have more hope in the voice acting community and more confidence in myself than ever before.